The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1897 nonfiction work De Profundis.

People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going. They can’t know. In one sense of the word it is of course necessary to know oneself: that is the first achievement of knowledge. But to recognise that the soul of a man is unknowable, is the ultimate achievement of wisdom. The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined question in the text as a whole?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) It cautions readers that the text’s directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow.
A
It cautions readers that the text’s directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow.
(Choice B) It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular.
B
It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular.
(Choice C) It reinforces the text’s skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.
C
It reinforces the text’s skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.
(Choice D) It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge.
D
It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge.

1 answer

The best choice that describes the function of the underlined question in the text as a whole is:

(Choice C) It reinforces the text’s skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.

The question "Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?" emphasizes the complexity and perhaps the impossibility of fully understanding oneself, aligning with the text's overall skepticism about self-knowledge.

Similar Questions
  1. What is a narrative? (1 point)• a fiction or nonfiction story that consists of a series of events • a nonfiction text
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  2. What is a narrative?a nonfiction text written to inform the reader about a topic a nonfiction text consisting of a series of
    1. answers icon 9 answers
  3. What is a narrative?1.a fiction or nonfiction story that consists of a series of events 2.a nonfiction text consisting of a
    1. answers icon 25 answers
  4. question 1What is a narrative? A. a nonfiction text consisting of a series of events in a person's life B. a play consisting
    1. answers icon 2 answers
more similar questions